Comey's Post Targeting Trump, South African Refugees in Spotlight, SCOTUS Fireworks: AM Update 5/16

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show: Comprehensive Summary of "Comey's Post Targeting Trump, South African Refugees in Spotlight, SCOTUS Fireworks: AM Update 5/16"

Release Date: May 16, 2025

In this engaging episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, host Megyn Kelly delves into a series of pressing political and legal issues dominating the national conversation. The episode covers former FBI Director James Comey's controversial Instagram post aimed at President Trump, the Trump administration's decision to grant refugee status to white South Africans, significant Supreme Court deliberations on judicial power and birthright citizenship, and updates on the high-profile Sean "Diddy" Combs criminal trial. Additionally, the show touches on the forthcoming attendance of American officials at Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass. Below is a detailed exploration of each topic discussed.

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1. James Comey's Controversial Instagram Post Targeting President Trump

Timestamp: [00:55]

Megyn Kelly opens the discussion with James Comey’s disturbing Instagram post that appeared to threaten President Trump. Comey shared an image of seashells arranged in a manner that seemed to encode the numbers "8647," which, in gang slang, implies a call to "get rid of" or "kill" someone—the latter likely referencing the 47th President, Trump.

Notable Quotes:

• James Comey ([00:55]): "Cool shell formation on my beach walk."
• Donald Trump Jr. ([00:55]): "Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem media worships."
• Taylor Butowicz, Deputy Chief of Staff ([00:55]): "While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as a hit on the sitting President of the United States."

Comey deleted the post within hours, stating, "I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down." However, interpretations remain divided. Defenders argue that "86" might simply mean to cancel or remove something, though this still hints at violent intent.

Government Response:

• FBI Director Kash Patel ([04:04]): "We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran."
• Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence ([04:04]): "James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this."

Kelly emphasizes the serious implications of such a statement, especially considering President Trump’s history of surviving assassination attempts.

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2. South African Refugees and U.S. Immigration Policy

Timestamp: [04:30]

The show transitions to the Trump administration's controversial decision to grant refugee status to 59 white South Africans, commonly known as Afrikaners, citing racial persecution and land seizures under the country’s recent Expropriation Act of 2024.

Key Points:

• President Cyril Ramaphosa ([04:30]): Criticizes the Afrikaners seeking refuge, labeling their departure as cowardly.
  • "We don't run away from our problems. We must stay here and solve our problems. When you run away, you're a coward and that's a real cowardly act."
• The Expropriation Act allows the South African government to seize land without compensation to address historical inequalities from apartheid.

Media Reactions:

• Buck Sexton, Radio Host ([06:23]): Highlights discriminatory laws in South Africa targeting the white minority, emphasizing quotas and protections for Afrikaners.
  • "There are explicit quotas in South Africa...These rules and laws explicitly disenfranchise the roughly 7% of South Africa that is white."

U.S. Media Coverage:

• Outrage among left-leaning media outlets, such as ABC, MSNBC, and CNN, criticizing the Trump administration for making exceptions for Afrikaners while imposing stricter refugee policies elsewhere.
  • "The Trump administration has made it virtually impossible for many refugees to come to the United States. But the President is making special exception for a group of 59 white South Africans."

Political Implications:

• President Trump ([07:35]): Frames Afrikaners as victims of genocide, a claim strongly denied by South African officials.
• Upcoming G20 Conference: The National Security Council has ordered U.S. agencies to suspend work on the November G20 meeting in Johannesburg, citing land confiscation and alleged genocide as central issues.

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3. Supreme Court Deliberations on Judicial Power and Birthright Citizenship

Timestamp: [11:01]

Megyn Kelly shifts focus to the Supreme Court's ongoing oral arguments regarding President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship—a cornerstone of U.S. immigration law.

Discussion Highlights:

• John Sauer, U.S. Solicitor General ([11:31]): Argues against universal injunctions, emphasizing that district courts should not have the authority to block national policies without a class action lawsuit.
  • "Universal injunctions exceed the judicial power granted in Article 3... They create a host of practical problems."
• Justice Sonia Sotomayor ([12:13]): Engages vigorously with Sauer, challenging the rationale behind limiting injunctions to party-specific cases.
• Conservative Justices, including Clarence Thomas ([13:05]): Question the historical usage of universal injunctions, suggesting they are an overreach of judicial authority.

Notable Exchanges:

• Justice Samuel Alito ([14:42]): Supports limiting nationwide injunctions, prompting debate over judicial overreach versus the need for swift legal resolutions.
• John Sauer ([14:56]): Highlights the impracticality of having 680 district court judges independently blocking national policies, advocating for a more centralized approach.

Conclusion: The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision by the end of June, with significant implications for the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch.

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4. Sean "Diddy" Combs Criminal Trial Updates

Timestamp: [15:28]

The episode provides updates on the high-profile criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who faces severe charges including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

Key Developments:

• Cross-Examination of Cassie Ventura ([15:28]): The defense seeks to depict a consensual and complex relationship between Ventura and Combs.
  • Email Evidence ([16:23]):
    • Diddy Combs: "It makes me so happy that you would fly to Atlanta just to see me. I'm a very lucky man. I love you. I miss you. Can't wait to hold you."
    • Cassie Ventura: "I'm a very lucky woman. I miss you so much. I'd fly wherever you needed me, whenever I love you."
  • Text Messages ([16:23]): References to "freak offs" and consensual sex rituals aim to humanize and normalize their past interactions.

Defense Strategy: The defense presents a narrative of genuine affection and mutual consent, challenging the prosecution's portrayal of Combs as leading a criminal enterprise.

Prosecution Stance: Federal prosecutors maintain that Combs orchestrated a network involved in various illicit activities, emphasizing the severity of the charges which could lead to life imprisonment if convicted.

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5. American Officials to Attend Pope Leo XIV's Inaugural Mass

Timestamp: [17:10]

The episode concludes with an update on Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming attendance at the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV: The first American pope, Robert Prevost, elected recently, known for his critical stance on the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
• Julian Prevost's Twitter Activity ([18:22]): The new pope has occasionally criticized policies, notably targeting Vice President Vance.
  • Quote from Pope Prevost ([18:22]): "It's very hard to fit a 2000 year old institution into the politics of 2025 America."
• Vatican Visit Significance: Marks the second trip for Vice President Vance since taking office, following the late Pope Francis’s passing.

Public Perception: The show highlights differing opinions on the politicization of the papacy, with officials like Vance choosing to focus on spiritual duties over political alignments.

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Conclusion

Megyn Kelly adeptly navigates through a multitude of contentious and significant topics, providing listeners with in-depth analysis and diverse viewpoints. From the alarming implications of Comey's social media activity to the nuanced debates within the Supreme Court, and the intersection of American politics with international religious leadership, the episode offers a comprehensive overview of the current socio-political landscape.

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This summary aims to encapsulate the critical discussions and insights presented in the May 16, 2025, episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, providing a clear and informative overview for those who may not have had the opportunity to listen.

Transcript

[Megyn Kelly]

Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Friday, May 16, 2025, and this is your AM update. A disturbing Instagram post from former FBI Director James Comey, seemingly aimed at President Trump, sets off a firestorm.

[Unknown Speaker]

The president is making a special exception for a group of 59 white South Africans.

[Megyn Kelly]

Outrage from Democrats and the media after the Trump administration grants refugee status to a group it says is facing racial persecution in south the practical problem is.

[Unknown Speaker]

That there are 680 district court judges. Sometimes they're wrong.

[Megyn Kelly]

The Supreme Court takes up sweeping questions about judicial power and President Trump's challenge to birthright citizenship. And cross examination begins on the star witness in the Diddy trial. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Megyn Kelly]

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[Megyn Kelly]

Former FBI director and longtime Trump critic James Comey on Thursday posting, then deleting a bizarre photo to his Instagram account. Seashells arranged to resemble the numbers 8647 in gang slang, 86 means to get rid of or kill someone. 47 of course, an apparent reference to President Trump. The 47th President Director Comey captioned the image. Cool shell formation on my beach walk. Donald Trump Jr. Posting quote, just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem media worships. Demented White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Butowicz posting on X quote While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle east, the former FBI director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as a hit on the sitting President of the United States. A message etched in the sand. This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously. About three hours later, Mr. Comey deleting the offending post, uploading a new one that reads, quote, I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down. Some of Mr. Comey's defenders say 86 is just restaurant slaying for canceling something or getting rid of something. Yeah, that too implies murder. In any event, the former FBI director is certainly aware of commonly known gang terminology and the elevated threat environment surrounding President Trump, who has survived at least two assassination attempts. FBI Director Kash Patel writing on X. We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with the Secret Service on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard with an unsparing view of this behavior on Fox News with Jesse Waters last night.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Any other person with the position of influence that he has, people who take very seriously what a guy of his stature, his experience and what the propaganda media has built him up to be. I'm very concerned for the president's life. We've already seen assassination attempts. I'm very concerned for his life. And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this.

[Megyn Kelly]

We will continue to monitor the story. Reporting the latest on Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticizing the white South Africans who left his country seeking refuge in the U.S. president Ramaphosa saying, quote, we don't run away from our problems. We must stay here and solve our problems. When you run away, you're a coward and that's a real cowardly act. On Monday, the Trump administration welcoming 59 refugees from South Africa, saying they're facing discrimination in their home country. The arrivals fast tracked following a February executive order granting refugee status to Afrikaners, citing racial persecution and land seizures there. President Ramaphosa signing the Expropriation act of 2024. It's a controversial law allowing the government to seize land in some cases without compensation to the owner, when it's equitable and in the public interest. The law defines public interest as, quote, the nation's commitment to land reform and to reforms to bring about equitable access to all South Africa's natural resources in order to redress the results of past discriminatory laws or practices. Supporters of the law say it's a step toward long overdue land reform following the apartheid legacy. Critics call it abject racial discrimination, warning of a dangerous encroachment on property rights. President Trump's executive order granting refugee status to white South African Afrikaners, framing them as victims of racial persecution by their own government. That government, the African Congress, issuing a statement saying these are not refugees fleeing persecution, but are fleeing justice, equality and, and accountability for historic privilege. Radio host Buck Sexton Tuesday on the Megyn Kelly show describing race based laws targeting South Africa's white minority.

[Buck Sexton]

You have explicit quotas in South Africa. You have, you must have, I think 85% of your company must be black employees or must, the managerial, managerial set must be black. If you want to get certain loans, you have to actually be black or at least partner with somebody who is black. There's all of these rules and laws that explicitly disenfranchise the roughly 7% of South Africa that is, that is white. And the 7% of the country that is white has not only state sponsored disenfranchisement going on now, but there's also an unwillingness to, to police and protect particularly these farms that have been the subjects of clearly anti white violence of the most gruesome and horrific kind of.

[Megyn Kelly]

This small batch of white refugees waving American flags, wearing American flags upon arrival in the US Sparking outrage amongst the leftist media commentators. A dramatic shift in attitudes from the 1 toward the millions of refugees arriving under the Biden administration, often under false or loose claims of asylum. Examples here of coverage from abc, MSNBC and cnn.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, the Trump administration has made it virtually impossible for many refugees to come to the United States. But the President is making special exception for a group of 59 white South.

Africans so deeply and morally wrongheaded and repulsive. These are the descendants of the people.

Who created the most diabolical system of.

[Megyn Kelly]

White supremacy in human history, apartheid.

[Unknown Speaker]

So if the Afrikaners don't actually like the land, they can leave that country.

They are, they're leaving to come here.

[Megyn Kelly]

No, these refugees are coming here.

[Unknown Speaker]

They can actually even go to where their native land is, which is probably, probably Germany.

[Megyn Kelly]

Are you against them coming here? Holland.

[Unknown Speaker]

Holland. They are being given special treatment when there is not a genocide happening in South Africa and they just don't like the law of the land.

[Megyn Kelly]

Small historical note, Africaners descend primarily from Dutch settlers arriving in South Africa almost 400 years ago, many settling regions that were sparsely populated or uninhabited at the time. The next G20 conference set for November in Johannesburg. The Washington Post citing anonymous sources reporting the National Security Council has ordered all US Agencies and departments to suspend work on that upcoming conference in April. Mr. Trump posting to Truth Social quote, how could we be expected to go to South Africa for the very important G20 meeting when land confiscation and genocide is the primary topic of conversation in recent years? Reports of white farmers brutally murdered in rural South Africa prompting claims that they are being targeted on a racial basis. Critics accusing the government of turning a blind eye. On Monday, President Trump again describing white South African farmers as victims of a genocide. South African officials strongly deny the accusation. President Ramaphosa set to visit the White House next Wednesday. Coming up, the Supreme Court takes up nationwide injunctions in a case involving Trump's move to end birthright citizenship. And cross examination begins on on the star witness of the Diddy criminal trial.

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[Megyn Kelly]

The Supreme Court on Thursday hearing oral arguments in cases where lower courts blocked President Trump's executive order purporting to end birthright citizenship, with the justices focusing on whether a single district judge can issue a nationwide injunction stopping the full force and effect of a law or an executive order. US Solicitor General John Sauer's opening argument made the case that judges should only be able to issue rulings that apply to the parties in the case before them.

[John Sauer]

Since January 20, district courts have now issued 40 universal injunctions against the federal government, including 35 from the same five judicial districts. This is a bipartisan problem that has now spanned the last five presidential administrations. Universal injunctions exceed the judicial power granted in Article 3, which exists only to address the injury to the complaining party. They transgress the traditional bounds of equitable authority and they create a host of practical problems. Such injunctions prevent the percolation of novel and difficult legal questions. They encourage rampant forum shopping. They require judges to make rushed, high stakes, low information decisions.

[Megyn Kelly]

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor stepping on Mr. Sauer with a rapid fire round of questioning, getting called out by the Chief Justice Roberts for her interruptions. That's rare. The Solicitor General arguing that if a lot of people are affected by a policy, they should file a class action lawsuit instead of asking one judge to block the policy for the whole nation. Both the Supreme Court and no lower court can stop an executive from universally from violating that holding those holdings by this court.

[John Sauer]

We are not claiming that because we're conceding that there could be a inappropriate case.

[Megyn Kelly]

Only a class. Only can I hear that. Can I hear the rest of his answer? Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who has previously written about the Court's impending need to address the use of nationwide injunctions, questioning the history of this practice.

[Unknown Speaker]

General, when were the first universal injunctions used?

[John Sauer]

We believe that the best reading of that is what you said in Trump against Hawaii, which is that warts in 1963 was really the first universal injunction. There's a dispute about Perkins against Lucan's Oil going back to 1940. And of course we point to the Court's opinion that reversed that, that, that universal injunction issued by the D.C. circuit and said it's, it's profoundly wrong. So when the Court has considered it, addressed this, it is consistently said you have to limit the remedy to the plaintiffs who appearing in court and complaining of that remedy.

[Unknown Speaker]

So we survived until the 1960s without universal injunctions.

[John Sauer]

That's exactly correct. And in fact, those are very limited, very rare. Even in the 1960s, it really exploded.

[Megyn Kelly]

In 2007, Joe Biden appointee Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson appearing to support nationwide injunctions, saying they encourage the government to work quickly toward the Supreme Court.

[Unknown Speaker]

I would think we'd want the system to move as quickly as possible to reach the merits of the issue and maybe have this court decide whether or not the government is entitled to do this under the law. Wouldn't having universal injunctions actually facilitate that? It seems to me that when the government is completely enjoined from doing the thing it wants to do, it moves quickly to appeal that, to get it to the Supreme Court. And that's actually what we would want.

[John Sauer]

Percolation of novel, sensitive constitutional issues is a merit of our system. It is not a, not a bad feature of the system.

[Megyn Kelly]

Conservative Justice Samuel Alito appearing to favor limiting the use of nationwide injunctions, questioning New Jersey Solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum arguing on behalf of a coalition of Democrat states challenging the birthright citizenship order.

[Unknown Speaker]

The practical problem is that there are 680 district court judges and they are dedicated and they are scholarly and I'm not impugning their motives in any way. But you know, sometimes they're wrong and the court of appeals gives it the back of the hand and then the case comes immediately to us in the context of an emergency application. And some of us have said, well, we don't think we should do anything in those situations unless the. Unless it is indisputably clear that the court below was wrong.

[Megyn Kelly]

The high court expected to issue a decision by the end of June. Day four of the Sean Diddy Combs criminal trial in New York. Federal prosecutors accusing the rapper of, quote, creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice. Star witness Cassie Ventura on Thursday taking the stand for the third day, this time for cross examination. The defense attempting to portray a complicated yet consensual relationship between Cassie and Combs. Ms. Ventura telling the defense she loved him for 11 years, believing Mr. Combs truly loved her too. The defense team presenting an email exchange between the couple from January 2008. Mr. Combs quote, it makes me so happy that you would fly to Atlanta just to see me. I'm a very lucky man. I love you. I miss you. Can't wait to hold you. Ms. Ventura replying, quote, I'm a very lucky woman. I miss you so much. I'd fly wherever you needed me, whenever I love you. The witness saying that was early in the relationship. Ms. Ventura describing the beginning of the relationship as, quote, very sweet, saying Mr. Combs was a, quote, charismatic, big personality that everyone really loved. The defense presenting a 2009 text from Ms. Ventura referencing the so called freak offs, the bizarre sex rituals they participated in together. Quote, the last time was a mistake, but since has made me feel a little dirty and grimy as opposed to sexual and spontaneous. That's the only reason why I go back and forth in my mind with wanting and not wanting to do it. Ms. Ventura writing in 2017 to Mr. Combs quote, I love our freak offs when we Both want it. Ms. Ventura on the stand dismissing the text as quote, just words at that point. The defense also referencing a 2017 message from Mr. Combs planning an upcoming freak off. Mr. Combs writing, didn't hear from you, so I just put some plans in motion. Let me know to stop. Just let me know if I'm headed in the wrong direction so I can cancel the defense. Aiming to portray the relationship and the sex behavior as consensual cross examination set to continue today. Mr. Combs faces up to life in prison if convicted. On Sunday, Vice President J.D. vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass at the Vatican. The first American pope born in Chicago as Robert Prevost, elected last week to head up the Catholic church and its 1.4 billion Catholics as a cardinal. Prevost running a Twitter account that occasionally shared content critical of the Trump administration's immigration policy, calling out J.D. vance, specifically the vice president and adult Catholic convert responding last week.

[Unknown Speaker]

You know, people are asking is he a conservative or is he a liberal? Well, he's attacked, you know, President Trump and J.D. vance on certain things and hasn't attacked Democrats on other things. And I guess my response to this is it's very hard to fit a 2000 year old institution into the politics of 2025America. I try not to do that. I am a Catholic convert and so I come at this maybe with a slightly different perspective, but I try not to play the politicization of the pope game. I'm sure he's going to say a lot of things that I love. I'm sure he'll say some things that I disagree with. But I'll continue to pray for him and the church despite it all and through it all. And that'll be the way that I handle it.

[Megyn Kelly]

This will be Mr. Vance's second trip to the Vatican since taking office. He was the last American official to visit with Pope Francis before the late pontiff's passing on Easter Monday. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the Megyn Kelly show live on Sirius XM Triumph channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and on all podcast platforms.

[Unknown Speaker]

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